Drill grinding attachment



March 1 'r. w. SIMPKINS ET AL 3,374,587

DRILL GRINDING ATTACHMENT Filed March 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIJJHH l U! Thomas W SI'mpkIhs Howard H. Crawford INVENTORS March 26, 1953 "r. w. SIMPKINS ET AL 3,374,587

DRILL GRINDING ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 16, 1966 Thomas W SMvp/rins Howard h! Crawford ZNVENTORS BY and United States Patent 3,374,587 DRILL GRINDING ATTACHMENT Thomas W. Simpkins, 4605 Leeds St., El Paso, Tex. 79903, and Howard H. Crawford, El Paso, Tex.; said Crawford assignor to said Simpkins Filed Mar. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 534,894 9 Claims. (Cl. 51-219) The present invention is concerned with twist drill sharpening apparatus, and more specifically relates to a drill grinding attachment utilized in conjunction with a grinding machine including a power driven vertically orientated grinding wheel.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a drill grinding attachment which incorporates a unique drill guide in the nature of a permanently affixed member which, without any adjustment thereof, is adapted so as to accommodate and properly position a substantial range of different size drills.

Another significant object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a drill guide which receives and provides a positive three-point support for the drill.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a drill grinding atachment which incorporates an elongated drill receiving trough in conjunction with a longitudinally adjustable seat including both a quick rough adjustment means and a fine adjustment means so as to insure a proper longitudinal positioning of a drill.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a drill grinding attachment which is basically simple in construction and capable of economic manufacture.

.The-se together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the drill grinding attachment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the drill grinding attachment positioned adjacent a grinding wheel and having a drill in operative position therein;

FIGURE 3 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view through the attachment;

FIGURE 4 is a front view perpendicular to the inclined drill;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 55 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 66 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 7-7 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating a slightly modified form of drill guide, as well as the accommodation of a smaller drill within the same basic shape.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the drill grinding attachment comprising the instant invention. The attachment 10 includes an elongated generally V-shaped drill receiving trough .12. The trough 12 is to be orientated at an angle to the horizontal corresponding to the desired cutting angle to be provided on the drill, this angle, for general drilling, "being in the nature of 59. In order to properly position and maintain the trough 12, an enlarged integral mounting lug 14 is provided thereon and depends therefrom for engagement with an enlarged plate-like portion 16 on the upper end of an elongated sleeve-like pedestal 18. The lug 14 is to be releasably fixed to the plate 16 at the desired angle, these ice angles lacing generally indicated in FIGURE 2. This fixed engagement between the lug 14 and plate 16 is to be achieved both through a suitable bolt and nut unit 20 and, if deemed necessary or desirable, keying portions on the adjacent faces (not shown). The sleeve-like portion 18 is rotatably received over a substantially vertical shaft 22 rigidly afiixed to a flat base 24. This shaft can, if so desired, be tilted approximately one and one-half degrees forward as it has been found that this tends to help the movement of the leading end of the drill across the wheel, and in particular allows the heel of the leading end to clear better. The base 24 is to be rigidly bolted, by means of bolt 28 extending through an elongated slot, 26 to the supporting surface 30 adjacent the grinding machine, the wheel 32 of such machine being illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. The base slot 26 is of significance in enabling a proper positioning of the attachment 10 when initially mounting the attachment adjacent the grinding wheel 32.

The drill 34 is to be cradled within the trough 12 with the leading end thereof supported upon the drill guide 36. With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be noted that, at the forward end portion of the trough .12, the diverging legs 38 which define the V-shape are generally wider so as to define a greater depth to the trough at this point. The drill guide 36 consists of a generally wide V-shaped flat plate rigidly aflixed, as by welding, to the extreme forward end of the trough 12, this forward end, incidently, being orientated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the trough, as will also be the drill guide 36. The outer edge 40 of the guide 36 is in alignment with and forms an extension of the outer surface of the trough 12. The inner edge of the drill guide 36 consists of two generally converging portions 42 and 44. The portion 42, on the left side of the guide 36 as viewed from the front thereof, generally parallels the corresponding portion of the outer edge 40. The inner edge portion 42 terminates, at its lower end, in an arcuate generally horizontal section 46 which in turn continues to a generally vertical abutment face 48 on an integrally formed vertically projecting positioning lug 50. This abutment face 48, referring to FIGURE 5, is located .just to the left of the center line of the trough 12, this center line being generally indicated by reference numeral 52. The inner edge portion 44 has a smooth arcuate concave configuration extending between the centrally located lug 50 and the horizontal upper edge 54 of the guide 36.

With particular reference to FIGURES 3 and 6, it will be noted that the entire inner edge of the guide 36, consisting of the two generally converging portions 42 and 44, is positioned substantially inward or above the inner surface of the trough 12. In this manner a significant portion of the length of the drill, rearward from the leading end thereof, will be spaced above the inner surface of the trough 12 with the seating of the forward end of the drill 34 within the guide 36 constituting the sole support of the forward portion of the drill 34. In this manner a positive and a proper seating of the forward end of the drill 34 within the guide 36 will be insured and it will be unaffected by any irregularities which might preclude a stable seating of the drill within the trough along the full length thereof.

In use, the trough supporting structure is positioned so as to locate the forward end of the trough 12, or more particularly the drill guide 36 integral therewith, as close to the grinding face of the wheel 32 as possible while still allowing for a complete clearing of the grinding surface upon a rotation of the trough about the vertical supporting shaft 22. In addition, the leading end of the trough 12 should be located at approximately mid-height on the wheel 32 and to one side of the center of rotation thereof. The drill 34 is laid in the trough 12 with 3 the forward end portion thereof resting upon the inner edge sections or portions 42 and 44. With reference to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that the drill 34 is supported within the guide 36 with one leading edge or lip 56 engaged against the abutment face 48 and with the trailing edge, associated with the second leading edge or lip, engaged against the arcuate semi-circular edge portion 44. The semi-circular configuration of the concave portion 44 is particularly significant in that it enables the accommodation of different size drills, within a particular range such as from A" to /2" or /2" to 1", with the trailing edge 58 engaged against the arcuate portion 44 while the aforedescribed leading edge 56 is engaged against the abutment defining face 48 with the body of the drill engaged against the straight edge portion 42. In this manner, a positive positioning and support of any of a variety of different size drills 34 is achieved without necessitating any mechanical adjustment of the attachment. FIGURE 5 is of particular significance in that two different size drills 34 are illustrated therein so as to set forth the manner in which both sizes can be accommoda ted by the same guide 36 in the above-described manner.

In order to effect the sharpening of the leading end of the drill 34, this leading end will have to be projected forwardly from the drill guide 36 so as to engage against the grinding surface of the wheel 32, this forward projecting of the leading end of the drill from the inclined guide 36 being illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. As noted previously, the abutment face 48 is located to one side of the center line 52. In this manner, as the leading edge 56 spirals forwardly from the abutment face 48 it approaches the vertical center line, indicated as 52 in FIGURE 5, and positions the cutting edge 60 of the drill point in substantially vertical alignment in the vertical plane of the attachment. This vertical alignment of the point cutting edge 60 is considered particularly desirable if a properly sharpened drill is to be obtained. By positioning the abutment face 48 of the lug 50 to one side of the vertical center line 52, at the point at which the forward portion of the drill 34 :is supported, this being slightly to the rear of the forwardly projected point of the drill 34, the proper positioning of the edge 60 is achieved for a sweeping movement of the drill point across the grinding face of the wheel 32.

With reference to FIGURE 8, it will be noted that a slightly modified form of drill guide 62 has been illustrated therein, this drill guide 62 differing from the drill guide 36 through the provision of serration-like steps 64 on the arcuate edge, each of the steps 64 being so located as to'receive the trailing edge 58 of a predetermined size drill 34 upon a seating of the leading edge 56 against the abutment face 48, thereby further insuring a proper positioning of the drill 34.

It is contemplated that the drill 34 be manually retained in the trough 12 throughout the pivotal swinging of the trough 12 during the grinding operation. In order to assist in retaining the drill 34 and maintaining a proper longitudinal adjustment thereof, a drill seating unit 66 is slidably positioned on the lower rear end of the trough 12. This unit 66, referring specifically to FIGURES 3 and 7, includes an outer triangularly shaped sleeve member 68 encircling the trough 12 and being in slidable engagement with the V-shaped outer surface thereof. In addition, a V-shaped inner lining member 70 is fixed to the sleeve 68 and slidably overlies the inner V-shaped surface of the trough 12 so as to define, in conjunction with the sleeve 68, a V-shaped passage which slidably receives the trough therethrough. A rigid rear wall 72 is provided between the rear of the liner 70 and the upper portion of the sleeve 68, this rear wall 72 having an internally threaded centrally located aperture 74 therethrough which threadedly receives an elongated externally threaded shaft 76. The forward end of the shaft 76 projects forward of the sleeve 68 and terminates in an enlarged seating head 78 against which the rear end of the drill 34 abuts, the rear portionaof the drill 34 also slidably seating on the trough bottom. An expanded coiled compression spring 80 encircles the threaded shaft 76 and has the opposite ends thereof engaged against the rear face of the head 78 and the forward face of the wall 72, thereby tending to stabilize the seating head 78 in any of its adjusted positions. A rapid and relatively rough adjustment of the unit 66 is achieved by merely sliding the entire unit along the trough 12 and ultimately locking the unit 66 in position by means of a setscrew 82 threaded into a suitable boss 84 on the sleeve 68 and selectively lockable against the trough 12. The fine adjustment of the unit 68 is achieved by a rotating of the shaft 76, this being done rapidly and witha substantial degree of exactness by merely physically grasping the enlarged seating head 78, the outer surface thereof being preferably knurled, and rotating this head between the fingers. If so desired, the rear end of the threaded shaft 76 can be provided with a kerf 86 for the use of a tool, such as a screwdriver, in achieving the rotatable adjustment thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique drill grinding attachment has been defined. This attachment, without any mechanical adjustments, is able to accommodate all of the drills, within a predetermined range, and position these drills so as to orientate the cutting point thereon for proper engagement with an adjacent grinding wheel. The user of the attachment need only seat the leading edge of the drill against the abutment face and project the leading end of the drill a sufficient distance beyond the guide so as to lightly engage against the grinding face of the Wheel 32. Upon doing so, the necessary proper positioning of the drill so as to insure a proper grinding thereof is achieved. The actual sharpening operation merely involves, as with conventional drill holders, a swinging of the drill point across the grinding face. Of particular significance in insuring the proper location of the drill on the forward drill guide is the provision of the abutment face on, the lug to one side of the vertical center line of the unit, and the provision of the semi-circular surface which, regardless of the particular size of the drill, provides a solid seat for the following edge. Incidently, in moving the drill point into the grinding wheel 32, it will be appreciated that the wheel 32 is to be approached in a manner so as to provide a pressure against the drill point which tends to maintain the leading edge against the abutment face on the positioning lug. Finally, if deemed desirable, the drill receiving trough can be provided with a longitudinally adjustable seating unit which includes means for providing both a rapid rough and a fine adjustment of the longitudinal position of the drill, this being particularly desirable as a means for insuring consistency in sharpening both forward or cutting edges of a drill.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A drill grinding attachment comprising an elongated drill receiving trough, said trough having forward and rear ends, a drill guide on the forward end of said trough, said drill guide including an upwardly directed inner edge defined by two generally converging edge portions, an integral upwardly projecting lug positioned substantially at the point of juncture of said edge portions and defining an abutment face at the adjacent end of a first of said edge portions for engagement of the leading edge of a drill thereagainst, the second of said edge portions being above the inner surface of the trough and arcuately concave between said lug and the outer end thereof so as to define a drill edge engaging surface adapted to engage a following edge of different size drills upon the engagement of a leading edge of the corresponding drill against said abutment face.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said first edge portion is substantially straight and engageable with the body of a drill simultaneously with the engagement of a leading and a following edge thereof.

3. The attachment of claim 2 including a drill adjusting unit engageable with said trough and movable longitudinally there along so as to vary the longitudinal position of a drill positioned within said trough, said adjusting unit including lock means for fixing the unit in any adjusted position along said trough, and a fine adjustment member mounted on said unit and adjustable relative thereto for further adjusting the position of a drill Within said trough.

4. The attachment of claim 3 wherein said adjusting unit includes a passage therethrongh slidably receiving said trough, said lock means comprising a setscrew threaded into said unit for selective lateral extension into said passage and into engagement with said trough.

5. The attachment of claim 4 wherein said fine adjustment member comprises an elongated threaded shaft orientated longitudinally within said trough and projecting forward of said unit, said shaft being threadedly mounted on said unit for selective extension and retraction forward thereof, the forward end of said shaft having a drill end seat thereon.

6. The attachment of claim 5 including a plurality of edge receiving seats defined along said arcuate edge portion, each seat accommodating the following edge of a different predetermined size drill.

7. The attachment of claim 1 including a drill adjusting unit engageable with said trough and movable longitudinally there along so as vary the longitudinal position of a drill positioned within said trough, said adjusting unit including lock means for fixing the unit in any adjusted position along said trough, and a fine adjustment member mounted on said unit and adjustable relative thereto for further adjusting the position of a drill within said trough.

8. The attachment of claim 1 including a plurality of edge receiving seats defined along said arcuate edge portion, each seat accommodating the following edge of a different predetermined size drill.

9. The attachment of claim 1 wherein both inner edge portions of the drill guide are located in spaced relation above the drill receiving trough so as to support the forward portion of the drill thereabove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,703 2/1900 White 51-219 1,020,860 3/1912 Vauclain 51-219 2,486,335 10/1949 Smith 5 l--219 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DRILL GRINDING ATTACHMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED DRILL RECEIVING TROUGH, SAID TROUGH HAVING FORWARD AND REAR ENDS, A DRILL GUIDE ON THE FORWARD DIRECTED INNER EDGE SAID DRILL GUIDE INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED INNER EDGE DEFINED BY TWO GENERALLY CONVERGING EDGE PORTIONS, AN INTEGRAL UPWARDLY PROJECTING LUG POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE POINT OF JUCTURE OF SAID EDGE PORTIONS AND DEFINING AND ABUTMENT FACE AT THE ADJACENT END OF A FIRST OF SAID EDGE PORTIONS FOR ENGAGEMENT OF THE LEADING EDGE OF A DRILL THEREAGAINST, THE SECOND OF SAID EDGE PORTIONS BEING ABOVE THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TROUGH AND ARCUATELY CONCAVE BETWEEN SAID LUG AND THE OUTER END THEREOF SO AS TO DEFINE A DRILL EDGE ENGAGING SURFACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A FOLLOWING EDGE OF DIFFERENT SIZE DRILLS UPON THE ENGAGEMENT OF A LEADING EDGE OF THE CORRESPONDING DRILL AGAINST SAID ABUTMENT FACE. 